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If you've ever wondered why Ireland is called "The Emerald Isle," this NASA image will answer the question. The photo was taken on October 11, 2010 by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center via NASA's Aqua Satellite.

Irish nationalists who supported the Anglo-Irish treaty - like Arthur Griffith - pointed out its positives:

We have brought back the flag, we have brought back the evacuation of Ireland after 700 years of British troops and the formation of an Irish army.

Those who opposed the treaty cared less about what had been accomplished and more about what had been lost.

Those who backed the treaty wore new green uniforms and were known as the Free State Army.

Those who opposed the treaty - mostly the IRA (Irish Republican Army) - were called the Irregulars.

In the first Free State election, following the treaty, Irish voters supported those who had supported the treaty. People appeared tired of the conflict, wishing to get on with a more normal life.

Even so, the Irregulars wanted to overthrow the treaty, end partition (between Ireland and Northern Ireland) and reunite the country. The conflict put friend against friend, brother against brother.

On the 28th of June, 1922, the Free State government sent an ultimatum to Irregulars who had taken over the Four Courts: surrender or face significant shelling. The Irregulars, holding fast, were bombed by the Free State Army - their former colleagues - over a two-day period.

Amidst the turmoil ... in 1922 ... James Joyce - still highly regarded as one of the world's best writers - published Ulysses, his famous novel featuring interior monologues and Dublin life. Living on the continent, Joyce did not experience upheavals in his Irish homeland.

More bloodshed followed before the civil war ended the next year. Pain, anguish and despair continued to dot the landscape of Ireland’s history before the new Dublin government was victorious.

As the 20th century continued, another time of troubles erupted in the late 1960s when Unionists vied with Republicans over the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. Unionists wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom; Republicans wanted the territory of Northern Ireland to be part of the Republic of Ireland.

One of the worst days - during "The Troubles" - was "Bloody Friday," which took place in Belfast on July 21, 1972. Within a period of eighty minutes, twenty-two bombs exploded. Nine people died and 130 people were injured.

Lasting thirty years - from October 5, 1968 to April 10, 1998 - "The Troubles" included the deaths of more than 3,600 people with injuries to around 50,000 more. A peace process finally resulted in the April 10th Good Friday Agreement which ended the dispute by granting power-sharing, in Northern Ireland, to the opposing factions.

Thus, as the 21st century began, Wolfe Tone's hope for Ireland - a united country - was not-yet to be. As one version of the United Irishmen’s oath puts it:

I will persevere in endeavoring to form a brotherhood of affection among Irishmen of all persuasions.

Or, as Wolfe Tone himself described his fondest dream:

To...substitute the common name of Irishman in place of the denominations of Protestant, Catholic, and Dissenter.